The Cape Girardeau Fire Department rescued a 54-year-old man from the Mississippi River around 6:45 p.m. Monday after his six-horsepower boat tipped and got sucked underneath a barge.

The man told firefighters he was seeking a tow from the barge and as he was reaching for his anchor chains the boat tipped and he fell in the river.

Emergency personnel said they couldn't release the man's name.

The incident occurred just south of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and Missouri Dry Docks.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the man's boat was completely submerged but he was safely on the barge he had been seeking a tow from.

At the Red Star public access dock, the man disembarked the boat and walked to the Cape County Private Ambulance on scene. He was complaining of chest pains and was taken to a local hospital around 7:15 p.m.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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